The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A walrus’ artistic prowess brings more than just visual rewards to his hungry neighbors.

Mäko inhabits a world of ice floes and deep, cold water. He dives for fish, the inspiration for sculptures he creates with his tusks. Other walruses, seals and penguins then use these statues as their guides when finding fish. Then, suddenly and without warning, the ice floe collapses and with it the culinary map. The other animals, now hungry, discover a newfound respect for Mäko, whom they previously thought somewhat odd. That night, he sets to work on a collection of ice blocks, and the result is quite dramatic, bordering on biblical proportions. In his debut picture book, Béziat, a French author and artist, has created a stark world of white ice and blue water, with animals defined through fine, black, line drawings. His tale, written in short declarative sentences, is open to interpretation. Adult readers may ponder the power of artistic vision, but children are likely to just see a pretty amazing character. Unfortunately, the staccato text feels at odds with the lofty theme.

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